Front supporting mechanism of a ski safety binding

ABSTRACT

A mechanism for supporting the front or toe part of a ski boot and for normally locking it in a central position on the ski and for releasing it laterally when excessive torsional forces occur. The mechanism comprises a supporting unit which is normally locked in a central position and adapted to be released therefrom and is provided with a pair of boot supporting arms which may be rigid with the main part of the unit or pivotably adjustable to different positions. Between these arms the supporting unit is provided with one or a pair of rotatable rollers upon which the boot likewise engages and on which it may roll laterally with a rolling friction when the supporting unit is released.

United States Patent [191 Sittman 1 Feb. 26, 1974 1 FRONT SUPPORTING MECHANISM OF A SKI SAFETY BINDING [75] Inventor: Brigitte Sittman, Stuttgart, Germany [22] Filed: Feb. 5, 1971 [21] App1lNo.: 112,917

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data 3/1970 Unger 280/1 1.35 T

3,584,891 6/1971 Khazzam 280/1 1.35 T 3,168,326 2/1965 Molino 280/1 1.35 T 3,194,574 7/1965 Beyl 280/11.35 T

Primary Examiner.R0bert R. Song 7 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Craig and Antonelli [57] ABSTRACT A mechanism for supporting the front or toe part of a ski boot and for normally locking it in a central position on the ski and for releasing it laterally when excessive torsional forces occur. The mechanism comprises a supporting unit which is normally locked in a central position and adapted to be released therefrom and is provided with a pair of boot supporting arm's which may be rigid with the main part of the unit or pivotably adjustable to different positions. Between these arms the supporting unit is provided with one or a pair of rotatable rollers upon which the boot likewise engages and on which it may roll laterally with a rolling friction when the supporting unit is released.

37 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Pmameurw w 3794.337

sum 1 BF 2 FIG.I

IN V EN TOR.

BRIGITTE. SITTMAN BY Gal 9, ,qn/bnellg Siemanl' ATTORNEYS FRONT SUPPORTING MECHANISM OF A SKI SAFETY BINDING The present invention relates to a front supporting mechanism of a ski safety binding for supporting the toe part of a ski boot, which comprises a front jaw unit or front supporting unit which is provided with lateral boot-supporting arms and is adapted to be released from a central position against the resistance of a looking device when excessive transverse forces occur.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide such a mechanism which permits the toe part of a ski boot to be more easily released from a ski in lateral directions and which is especially intended to reduce the frictional resistance which tends to counteract such a release.

One of the features of the invention therefore consists in providing the front supporting unit with one or more additional supporting means in the form of rollers or the like which are mounted between the lateral bootsupporting arms and engage with a rolling friction on the toe part of the ski boot and additionally support the latter. These rolling supporting means have been found to reduce considerably the frictional resistance which is produced by the strong forwardly directed pressure of the boot as may sometimes occur, and which resistance in the event of a fall of the skier may interfere with or even prevent a release of the boot in a lateral direction from the front or toe supporting unit. These rolling means permit the boot to turn outwardly between the two boot-supporting arms of the front unit since the front end of the boot may then move with a rolling friction along these means while the latter carry out a rotary movement.

It is a further object of the invention to insure that when the toe part of a ski boot is to be supported at more than two points by the front supporting unit, the boot will actually engage at all of the desired points upon this unit.

If two rollers are provided in the front supporting unit side-by-side in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the ski, it is another feature of the invention for attaining the last-mentioned object that these rollers be rotatably mounted on the two equal arms of a rocker which is pivotable like a scale beam about an axis which extends vertically to the upper surface of the ski. The ski boot will in this case be supported on the front supporting unit at four points, namely, on the two rearwardly directed boot-supporting arms and on the two rollers or the like which are rotatably mounted on the rocker which balances the forces acting upon thetwo rollers and also reduces the surface pressures which are exerted upon these rollers.

In order to insure that the boot will be actually supported on the roller or rollers or the like which are located between the two boot-supporting arms, the present invention further provides suitable means for adjusting the position of the roller or rollers in the longitudinal direction of the ski.

It is a further object of the invention to mount the roller or rollers or similar supporting elements so that their axes will be held in a rigid position and will not bend or tilt under the pressures of the boot even if for simplifying the construction and the adjustments of the roller or rollers or the like, they will be rigidly mounted and be adjustable only at one side thereof. I

A further object of the invention consists in designing the resilient means for normally locking the front supporting unit in a central position so that relatively small movements will be required to disengage these locking means from their locking position. For this purpose it is another feature of the invention to provide a single locking spring in operative association with two separate locking devices by acting by means of each of its ends upon one of these devices.

Instead of rigidly or integrally connecting the two boot-supporting arms to the front supporting unit, it is another feature of the invention to provide these arms as separate elements which are adjustable to different positions relative to the mentioned unit.

These and additional features and advantages of the present invention will become further apparent from the following detailed description thereof which is to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 shows a side view of one embodiment of the front jaw or front supporting unit according to the invention, with a part thereof shown in a section which is taken along the line la 'la and another part (in the lower right part of FIG. 1) along the line lb 1b of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 shows a top view of FIG. 1, partly in a section which is taken along the line 2 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a cross section of a further embodiment of the front supporting unit according to the invention which is taken along the line 3 3 of FIG. 4; while FIG. 4 shows a top view, partly in section, of FIG. 3.

According to the first embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a journal 12 which is'secured by means of a base plate 11 to a ski 10 carries a supporting jaw element 13 which may consist of one or more parts and is pivotably mounted on journal 12 and is normally locked by a locking device 14 in the position as shown in FIG. 2 in which the longitudinal axis of this jaw element 13 extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ski. This locking device 14 is provided in a conventional manner with a locking spring 15 which by means of a piston 16 presses a locking roller 17 into a locking recess 18 which is provided in the outer side of the journal 12 and may have, for example, a V-shaped cross section. The jaw element 13 may therefore turn about the journal 12 only if the locking roller 17 is forced out of the recess 18 against the action of spring 15. The rear end of this spring 15 (not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) acts upon the jaw element 13, for example, by means of a screw or the like which permits the tension of spring 15 to be adjusted.

The jaw element 13 further comprises a pair of lateral rearwardly projecting arms 19 and 20 against the outer ends of which at the points A and B the front part 21 of a ski boot may abut which is indicated in FIG. 2 in dot-and-dash lines. Although these arms 19 and 20 are shown in the drawings as being integral with the main part of the jaw element 13, they may also form separate parts which are secured tothis element13 or are adjustably connected thereto, for example, by being pivotable to different angles about vertical axis.

For supporting the front or toe part of a ski boot 21 between the two arms 19 and 20, the invention further provides a pair of rollers 22 and 23 which are rotatably mounted on the jaw element 13 between these arms and upon which the front part 21 of the ski boot may engage at the points C and D. Provided these rollers 22 and 23 are properly adjusted in the longitudinal direction of the ski, the front part 21 of the boot will engage at the same time at the points A and B upon the jaw element 13. In order to insure that the pressure upon the boot at the points C and D will not be excessive and the forwardly directed pressures will be uniformly transinitted to the rollers 22 and 23, these two rollers are mounted on the two equal arms of a rocker 24 which is pivotable similar to a scale beam and is composed of the upper and lower members 24a and 24b which are spaced from each other by a. spacing tube 26 and are pivotably mounted on the central pin 25 which extends through this tube 26 and has an axis x x extending vertically to the horizontal upper surface of the ski. Rollers 22 and 23 ar e rotatably mounted at the opposite ends of rocker 24 at equal distances from the axis x x on bushings 27 which, in turn, are mounted on pins 28.

The central pin 25 carrying the rocker 24 is rigidly secured to or integral with a slide member 29, and the part 31 of this pin between the slide member 29 and the part carrying the rocker 24 is provided with a screw thread 30 upon which a nut 32 is screwed.

Slide member 29has a rectangular shape. and is inserted into a'longer likewise rectangular aperture 33 in the jaw element 13 and is adjustable in the axial direction of the latter along the side walls of this aperture 33. For locking the slide member 29 in a fixed position in aperture 33, its upper end is provided with a flange 36 which engages upon a shoulder at the upper end of aperture 33, while at the lower end of slide member 29 the part 31 of pin 25 carries a washer 37 which is preferably resilient and clamped by the nut 32 against a shoulder at the lower end of aperture 33.

Slide member 29 is further provided with a threaded bore which likewise extends in the axial direction of the jaw element 13 and into which a screw 38 having a thread 39 is screwed which has a total length equal to that of the aperture 33 so that slide member 29 is also locked in the axial direction of jaw element 13. The rear end of screw 38 is provided with a slot 40 into which a screw driver may be inserted througha bore 41 from the outside so as to permit the screw 38 to be turned.

For adjusting the rollers 22 and 23 together with the rocker 24 in the axial direction of jaw element 13, nut 32 is first sufficiently loosened, whereupon screw 38 may be turned toward the right or left so as to shift the slide member 29 forwardly or toward the rear along screw 38 within the aperture 33, while it is guided by the lateral walls 34 and 35 of the aperture and by the flange 36 and washer 37 sliding along the shoulders at the upper and lower end of aperture 33. After the rollers 22 and 23 have been accurately adjusted to the desired position in accordance with a particular ski boot, nut 32 may again be tightened so that slide member 29 will then be locked in a fixed position in aperture 33 and be clamped securely to the jaw element 13. Due to the accurate fit of slide member 29 in the jaw element 13, the forces which are subsequently transmitted by the front part of the ski boot in the longitudinal direction of the ski to the rollers 22 and 23 will be reliably taken up by the latter even though the pivot pin 25 carrying the rocker 24 is rigidly mounted on the jaw element 13 only at one side of the rocker, that is, above the rocker and the rollers 22 and 23.

Of course, if desired, this embodiment of the invention may be modified so as to avoid the exertion of any lateral or tilting forces upon the slide member 29 by mounting the pivot pin 25 also at its lower end on the jaw element 13 by means of a similar slide member. Of course, if two such slide members and their associated elements are provided, they do not have to be made of such a solid construction as the single slide member 29 and its associated elements as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

in the second embodiment of the invention as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 those parts which are equal or similar to the parts as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are indicated by the same reference numbers which, however, are increased by I00.

- While in the embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the arms 19 and 20 are integral with the jaw or supporting element 13 which is pivotable about the journal 12, the arms 119 and 120 of the embodiment as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 form separate elements which are pivotable about pivot pins 142 on a supporting part 143 which, in turn, is either rigidly connected to the main supporting element 1 13'or is pivotably mounted by means of a journal or pivot pin 125 on a pair of parallel arms 113a and 113b which project toward the rear from the supporting element 113. The ends of the arms 119 and 120 facing the boot are preferably pressed outwardly by springs, not shown, against adjustable stops on the supporting part 143.

The main supporting element 113 is provided with a bore 144 in which a tubular member 145 is axially slidable which contains a compression spring 115 the tension of which is adjustable from the outside by means of a setscrew which is screwed into the reduced rear end portion of the tubular member 145 and carrieson its inner end a disk 146 which engages upon one end of spring 115. The other end of spring 115 acts upon a locking piston 116 which, in turn, is slidable in the tubular member 145 and is pressed by the spring against a locking roller 117 which is thereby pressed into a V- shaped locking recess 118 in journal 112. Under the pressure of spring 115 upon disk 146, the tubular member 145 is pressed at the same time forwardly within the main supporting element 113, whereby a roller 147 which is rotatably mounted thereon engages into a second V-shaped locking recess 148 which is provided in a part of the base plate 111.

If, for example, due to a torsional fall of the skier, the

entire supporting unit consisting of the elements 113, 143, 119 and 120 is pivoted about the journal 1 12, both locking rollers 117 and 147 will be forced out of the locking recesses 118 and 148. The force of a single spring, i.e., spring 115, therefore produces a double locking effect upon the entire supporting unit which, in turn, requires a smaller pivoting movement of the unit in order to effect its release from its locked position. A second locking spring may therefore be omitted.

The toe portion of the ski boot is in this case supported by a single roller 122 which is rotatably mounted on the journal or pivot pin 125, the axis of which extends vertically to the upper surface of the ski. This roller 122 may be adjustable along the journal 125 to different heights from'the ski. Of course, this embodiment of the invention may also be modified so as to have two rollers 122 both of which may then also be rotatably mounted on a rocker which, in turn, is pivotable about a journal or pivot pin 25vsimilarly as described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. Since in the embodiment according to FIGS. 3 and 4 the arms 119 and 120 are adjustable, the roller or rollers 122 do not need to be adjustable in the longitudinal direction relative to the ski boot. The journal or pivot pin 125 carrying the single roller 122 or the pin 25 carrying'the rocker on which the two rollers are rotatably mounted may then be rigidly secured to the main supporting element 113.

Although my invention has been illustrated and described with reference-to the preferred embodiments thereof, 1 wish to have it understood that it is in no way limited to the details of such embodiments but is capable of numerous modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully disclosed my invention, what I claim is:

l. A front supporting mechanism of a ski safety binding comprising a supporting unit having a pair of lateral, rearwardly projecting boot-supporting arms adapted to engagewith and support the toe part of a ski boot, pivot means for mounting said unit on said ski so as to be pivotable relative to said ski about an axis extending substantially vertically to the'upper surface of a ski, releasable locking means for normally locking said unit in a central position which its longitudinal axis extends substantially parallel'to the longitudinal axis of said ski, two rollerlike elements rotatably mounted on said unit between said two boot-supporting arms in a manner so as to permit the front side of the toe part of said boot to simultaneously engage upon and be supported by said rollerlike elements, a rocker similar to a scale beam having apair of equal arms, bearing means for mounting said rocker on said unit so as to be pivotable about an axis extending substantially vertically to the upper surface of said ski, and means for rotatably mounting said two rollerlike elements on the outer ends of said rocker arms at equal distances from said axis of said pivot means and so as to be rotatable about substantially vertical axes extending parallel to the pivot axis of said rocker,

2. A front supporting mechanism as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for adjusting said rollerlike elements in the longitudinal direction of said ski.

3. A front supporting mechanism as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for adjusting said rocker in the longitudinal direction of said ski.

4. A front supporting mechanism as defined in claim 3, in which said adjusting means comprise a slide member and means for guiding said slide member on said unit in the longitudinal direction of said ski, said bearing means of said rocker comprising a pivot pin secured to said slide member and extending througha central bore in said rocker and in a substantially vertical direction to the upper surface of said ski, said rocker being pivotably mounted on said pivot pin.

5. A front supporting mechanism as defined in claim 4, in which between said boot-supporting arms said supporting unit has a slot-shaped aperture extending in said longitudinal direction and having two opposite inner side walls and end walls and containing said slide member, said slide member having a threaded bore extending substantially in said longitudinal direction, said means for guiding said slide member comprising said inner side walls, and outer side walls on said slide mem- -eral,

ber slidable along and guided by said inner side walls of said aperture, and a screw member screwed through said bore and its opposite ends substantially abutting against said end walls of said aperture, said screw member when turned about its axis adapted to shift said slide member back and forth in said longitudinal direction along said screw member within said aperture, and releasable means for clamping said slide member in a fixed position to said unit in a direction substantially vertically to the upper surface of said ski.

6. A front supporting mechanism as defined in claim 5, in which said unit has an upper and a lower shoulder at the upper and lower ends of said aperture and extending substantially parallel to said ski surface, said clamping means comprising a flange projecting laterally from one end of said slide member and engaging upon one of said shoulders, and a nut member screwed on a threaded part of said pivot pin and adapted to be tightened against the other shoulder so as to secure said slide member in said aperture in a fixed position to said unit.

7. A front supporting mechanism as defined in claim 5, in which said rocker is composed of two substantially parallel plates'pivotably mounted above each other on said pivot pin, said rollerlike elements being disposed between and rotatably mounted on said two plates at the opposite lateral sides of said pivot pin.

8. A front supporting mechanism as defined in claim 1, in which said lateral boot-supporting arms are substantially rigid and integral with said supporting unit.

9. A front supporting mechanism of a ski safety binding comprising a supporting unit having a pair of latrearwardly projecting boot-supporting arms adapted to engage with and support the toe part of a ski boot, pivot means for mounting said unit on said ski so as to be pivotable relative to said ski about an axis extending substantially vertically to the upper surface of a ski, releasable locking means for normally locking said unit in a central position in which its longitudinal axis extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said ski, at least one rollerlike element rotatably mounted on said unit between said two boot-supporting arms in a manner so as to permit the front side of the toe part of said boot to engage upon and be supported by said roller-like element, and adjusting means for adjusting at least said one rollerlike element in the longitudinal direction of said ski, said adjusting means including a slide member carrying said rollerlike element and means for guiding said slide member on said unit in the longitudinal direction of said ski.

10. A front supporting mechanism as defined in claim 9, in which said rollerlike element is mounted so as to extend in a substantially vertical direction at one side of said slide member, said unit having a slot-shaped aperture containing said slide member and having inner lateral walls for guiding said slide member in the longitudinal direction.

11. A front supporting mechanism as defined in claim 9, in which said adjusting 'means further comprise screw means havingan axis extending substantially in the longitudinal direction of said ski.

12. A front supporting mechanism of a ski safety binding comprising a supporting unit having a pair of lateral, rearwardly projecting boot-supporting arms adapted to engage with and support the toe part of a ski boot, pivot means for mounting said unit on said ski so as to be pivotable relative to said ski about an axis extending substantially vertically tothe upper surface of a ski, releasable locking means for normally locking said unit in a central position in which its longitudinal axis extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said ski, two supporting elements rotatably mounted on said unit between said two boot-supporting arms in a manner so as to permit the front side of the toe part of said boot to simultaneously engage upon and be supported by said supporting elements, a rocker similar to a scale beam having a pair of arms, bearing means for mounting said rocker on said unit so as to be pivotable about an axis extending substantially vertically to the upper surface of said ski, and means for rotatably mounting said two supporting elements on said rocker arms so as to be rotatable about substantially vertical axes extending parallel to the pivot axis of said rocker.

13. A front supporting mechanism according to claim 12, wherein said supporting elements are rollerlike elements.

14. A front supporting mechanism as defined in claim 13, in which said lateral boot-supporting arms are substantially rigid and integral with said supporting unit.

15. A front supporting mechanism according to claim l2, further comprising means for adjusting said supporting elements in the longitudinal direction of the ski.

16. A front supporting mechanism as defined in claim 15, wherein said adjusting means includes a slide member carrying said supporting elements, and means for guiding said slide member on said unit in the longitudinal direction of said ski.

17. A front supporting mechanism as defined in claim 16, wherein said supporting elements are mounted so as to extendin a substantially vertical direction at one side of said'slide member, said unit having a slot-shaped aperture containing said slide member and having inner lateral walls for guiding said slide member in the longitudinal direction.

18. A front supportingmechanism as defined in claim 16, in which said adjusting means further comprise screw means having an axis extending substantially in the longitudinal direction of said ski.

19. A front supporting mechanism as defined in claim 12, further comprising means for adjusting said rocker in the longitudinal direction of saidski.

20. A front supporting mechanism as defined in claim 19, in which said adjusting means comprise a slide member and means for guiding said slide member on said unit in the longitudinal direction of said ski, said bearing means of said rocker comprising a pivot pin secured to said slide member and extending through a central bore in said rocker and in a substantially vertical direction to the upper surface of said ski, said rocker being pivotably mounted on said pivot pin.

21. A front supporting mechanism as defined in claim 20, in which between said boot-supporting arms said supporting unit has a slot-shaped aperture extending in said longitudinal direction and having two opposite inner side walls and end walls and containing said slide member, said slide member having a threaded bore extending substantially in said longitudinal direction, said means for guiding said slide member comprising said inner side walls, and outer side walls on said slide member slidable along and guided by said inner side walls of said aperture, and a screw member screwed through said bore and its opposite ends substantially abutting against said end walls of said aperture, said screw member when turned about its axis adapted toshift said slide member back and forth in said longitudinal direction along said screw member within said aperture, and releasable means for clamping said slide member in a fixed position to said unit in a direction substantially vertically to the upper surface of said ski.

22. A front supporting mechanism as defined in claim 21, in which said unit has an upper and a lower shoulder at the upper and lower ends of said aperture and ex tending substantially parallel to said ski surface, said clamping means comprising a flange projecting laterally from one end of said slide member and engaging upon one of said shoulders, and a nut member screwed on a threaded part of said pivot pin and adapted to be tightened against the other shoulder so as to secure said slide member in said aperture in a fixed position to said otheron said pivot pin, said supporting elements being disposed between and rotatably mountedton said two plates at the opposite lateral sides of said pivot pin;

24. A front supporting mechanism as defined in claim 12, in which said lateral boot-supporting arms are substantially rigid and integral with said supporting unit.

25. A mechanism according to claim 12, further comprising means for adjusting said supporting elements in the longidudinal direction of the ski.

2 6. A mechanism for a ski safety binding comprising: a supporting unit, a pair of lateral rearwardly projecting boot-supporting arms adapted to engage with and support an end part of a ski boot,pivo t means for mounting said unit on said ski such that said unit is pivotable relative to said ski about an axis extending substantially vertically to the upper surface of said ski at a fixed location on said upper surface, said boot-supporting arms being connected to said unit so as to move with said unit during pivotal movement of said unit, releasable locking means fornormally locking said unit in a central position in which the longitudinal axis of said unit extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said ski, said locking means being responsive to predetermined lateral forces on said unit to release said unit for pivotal movement away from said central position, at least one rotatable element mounted on said unit between said boot-supporting arms in a manner permitting abutting engagement of a part of said ski boot on said rotatable element when said ski boot is on said ski and supported by said supporting mechanism, and ad justing means for adjusting said at least one rotatable element in the longitudinal direction'of said ski with respect to engagement points of said supporting arms on said ski boot to ensure contact between said ski boot and said supporting arms and said at least one rotatable element for boots of varying sizes, and a rocker similar to a scale beam having a pair of arms, bearing means for mounting said rocker on said unit so as to be pivotable about an axis extending substantially vertically to the upper surface of said ski, and means for rotatably mounting two of said rotatable elements on said rocker arm so as to be rotatable about substantially vertical axes extending parallel to the pivot axis of said rocker.

27. A mechanism according to claim 26, further comprising means for adjusting said rocker in the longitudinal direction of said ski.

28. A mechanism according to claim 27, in which said adjusting means comprise a slide member and means for guiding said slide member on said unit in the longitudinal direction of said ski, said bearing means of said rocker comprising a pivot pin secured to said slide member and extending through a central bore in said rocker and in a substantially vertical direction to the upper surface of said ski, said rocker being pivotably mounted on said pivot pin. 7

29. A mechanism for a ski safety binding comprising: a supporting unit, a pair of lateral rearwardly projecting boot-supporting arms adapted to engage with and support an end part of a ski boot, pivot means for mounting said unit on said ski such that said unit is pivotable relative to said ski about an axis extending substantially vertically to the upper surface of said ski at a fixed location on said upper surface, said boot-supporting arms being connected to said unit so as to move with said unit during pivotal movement of said unit, releasable locking means for normally locking said unit in a central position in which the longitudinal axis of said unit extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said ski, said locking means being responsive to predetermined lateral forces on said unit to release said unit for pivotal movement awayfrom said central position, at least one rotatable element mounted on said unit between said boot-supporting arms in a manner permitting abutting engagement of a part of said ski boot on said rotatable element when said ski boot is on said ski and supported by said supporting mechanism, and adjusting means for adjusting said at least one rotatable element in the longitudinal direction of said ski with respect to engagement points of said supporting arms on said ski bootto ensure contact between said ski boot and said supporting arms and said at least one rotatable element for boots of varying sizes, wherein said adjusting means includes means for adjusting said at least one rotatable element in the longitudinal direction of said ski.

30. A mechanism according to claim 29, wherein said rotatable element includes a roller having an axis extending substantially vertically to the upper surface of said ski, and further comprising means for mounting said roller so as to be rotatable about said lastmentioned axis.

31. A mechanism according to claim 29, wherein two of said rotatable elements are rotatably mounted side.- by-side and in such a manner that said end part of said boot may simultaneously engage with and be supported by said two rotatable elements. l

32. A mechanism according'to claim 29, in which said adjusting meansincludes a slide member carrying said rotatable element and means for guiding said slide member on said unit in the longitudinal direction of said ski.

33. A mechanism according to claim 32, in which said rotatable element is mounted so as to extend in a substantially vertical direction at one side of said slide member, said unit having a sloflshaped aperture containing said slide member and having inner lateral walls for guiding said slide member in the longitudinal direction.

34. A mechanism according to claim 32, in which said adjusting means further comprise screw means 10 having an axis extending substantially in the longitudinal direction of said ski.

35. A mechanism for a ski safety binding comprising: a supporting unit, a pair of lateral rearwardly projecting boot-supporting arms adapted to engage with and support an end part of a ski boot, pivot means for mounting said unit on said ski such that said unit is pivotable relative to said ski about an axis extending substantially vertically to the upper surface of said ski at a fixed location on said upper surface, said boot-supporting arms being connected to said unit so as to move with said unit during pivotal movement of said unit, releasable locking means for normally locking said unit in a central position in which the longitudinal axis of said unit extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said ski, said locking means being responsive to predetermined lateral forces on said unit to release said unit for pivotal movement away from said central position, at least one rotatable element mounted on said unit between said boot-supporting arms in a manner permitting abutting engagement of a part of said ski boot on said rotatable element when said ski boot is on said ski and supported by said supporting mechanism, and adjusting means for adjusting said at least one rotatable element in the longitudinal direction of said ski with respect to engagement points of said supporting arms on said ski boot to ensure contact between said ski boot and said supporting arms and said at least one rotatable element for boots of varying sizes, in which said lateral boot-supporting arms are substantially rigid and integral with said supporting unit. 7

36. A mechanism for a ski safety binding comprising:

a pair of lateral longitudinally projecting bootsupporting arms, I mounting means for mounting said arms on a ski such that said arms are movable between a first, position with each of said arms abuttingly engaging a respective side of an end part of a ski boot located on said ski to hold said boot in an in-use position with said arms preventing movement of said boot from said in-use position, wherein said mounting means includes releasable locking means for normally locking said arms in said first position, said locking means being responsive to predetermined lateral forces imposed on said arms by said boot to permit movement of saidarms to said second position, at least one rotatable element positioned for abutting engagement with said end part between respective points of engagement of said arms with said sides of said end part when said arms are in said first po-- sition.

and adjusting means for adjusting the position of said at least one rotatable element with respect to the respective points of engagement of said arms with said sides to assure contact between said boot and both said arms and said at least one rotatable element for boots of varying sizes, wherein said supporting arms are fixedly connected with one another when in an adjusted operating position, and wherein said at least one rotatable element is maintained in an adjusted position relatively fixed with respect to said supporting arms such that said end part of said boot is securely guided by said rotatable element and said supporting arms during movement from said first position toward said second position, wherein said supporting arms are integrally fonned with one another, and wherein said adjusting means includes a slide member which supports said at least one rotatable element, said slide member being adjustable in the longitudinal direction of the ski with respect to said supporting arms.

37. A mechanism for a ski safety binding comprising:

a pair of lateral longitudinally projecting bootsupporting arms,

mounting means for mounting said arms on a ski such that said arms are movable between a first position with each of said arms abuttingly engaging a respective side of an end part of a ski boot located on said ski to hold said boot in an in-use position with said arms preventing movement of said boot from said in-use position, wherein said mounting means includes releasable locking means for normally locking said arms in said first position, said locking means being responsive to predetermined lateral forces imposed on said arms by said boot to permit movement of said arms to said second position,

at least one friction reducing element positioned for abutting engagement with said end part between respective points of engagement of said arms with 12 said sides of said end part when said arms are in said first position, v

and adjusting means for adjusting the position of said at least one friction reducing element with respect to the respective points of engagement of said arms with said sides to assure contact between said boot and both said arms and said at least one friction reducing element for boots of varying sizes,

wherein said supporting arms are connected with one another at a fixed position with respect to said at least one friction reducing element during movement of said supporting arms between said first and second positions such that said end part of said boot is securely guided by said at least one friction reducing element and by said supporting arms during movement from said first position toward said second position, and wherein said supporting arms are integrally formed with one another and wherein said adjusting means includes a slide member which supports said at least one friction reducing element, said slide member being adjustable in the longitudinal direction of the ski with respect to said supporting arms. 

1. A front supportinG mechanism of a ski safety binding comprising a supporting unit having a pair of lateral, rearwardly projecting boot-supporting arms adapted to engage with and support the toe part of a ski boot, pivot means for mounting said unit on said ski so as to be pivotable relative to said ski about an axis extending substantially vertically to the upper surface of a ski, releasable locking means for normally locking said unit in a central position in which its longitudinal axis extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said ski, two rollerlike elements rotatably mounted on said unit between said two boot-supporting arms in a manner so as to permit the front side of the toe part of said boot to simultaneously engage upon and be supported by said rollerlike elements, a rocker similar to a scale beam having a pair of equal arms, bearing means for mounting said rocker on said unit so as to be pivotable about an axis extending substantially vertically to the upper surface of said ski, and means for rotatably mounting said two rollerlike elements on the outer ends of said rocker arms at equal distances from said axis of said pivot means and so as to be rotatable about substantially vertical axes extending parallel to the pivot axis of said rocker.
 2. A front supporting mechanism as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for adjusting said rollerlike elements in the longitudinal direction of said ski.
 3. A front supporting mechanism as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for adjusting said rocker in the longitudinal direction of said ski.
 4. A front supporting mechanism as defined in claim 3, in which said adjusting means comprise a slide member and means for guiding said slide member on said unit in the longitudinal direction of said ski, said bearing means of said rocker comprising a pivot pin secured to said slide member and extending through a central bore in said rocker and in a substantially vertical direction to the upper surface of said ski, said rocker being pivotably mounted on said pivot pin.
 5. A front supporting mechanism as defined in claim 4, in which between said boot-supporting arms said supporting unit has a slot-shaped aperture extending in said longitudinal direction and having two opposite inner side walls and end walls and containing said slide member, said slide member having a threaded bore extending substantially in said longitudinal direction, said means for guiding said slide member comprising said inner side walls, and outer side walls on said slide member slidable along and guided by said inner side walls of said aperture, and a screw member screwed through said bore and its opposite ends substantially abutting against said end walls of said aperture, said screw member when turned about its axis adapted to shift said slide member back and forth in said longitudinal direction along said screw member within said aperture, and releasable means for clamping said slide member in a fixed position to said unit in a direction substantially vertically to the upper surface of said ski.
 6. A front supporting mechanism as defined in claim 5, in which said unit has an upper and a lower shoulder at the upper and lower ends of said aperture and extending substantially parallel to said ski surface, said clamping means comprising a flange projecting laterally from one end of said slide member and engaging upon one of said shoulders, and a nut member screwed on a threaded part of said pivot pin and adapted to be tightened against the other shoulder so as to secure said slide member in said aperture in a fixed position to said unit.
 7. A front supporting mechanism as defined in claim 5, in which said rocker is composed of two substantially parallel plates pivotably mounted above each other on said pivot pin, said rollerlike elements being disposed between and rotatably mounted on said two plates at the opposite lateral sides of said pivot pin.
 8. A front supporting mechanism as defined in claim 1, in which said lateral Boot-supporting arms are substantially rigid and integral with said supporting unit.
 9. A front supporting mechanism of a ski safety binding comprising a supporting unit having a pair of lateral, rearwardly projecting boot-supporting arms adapted to engage with and support the toe part of a ski boot, pivot means for mounting said unit on said ski so as to be pivotable relative to said ski about an axis extending substantially vertically to the upper surface of a ski, releasable locking means for normally locking said unit in a central position in which its longitudinal axis extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said ski, at least one rollerlike element rotatably mounted on said unit between said two boot-supporting arms in a manner so as to permit the front side of the toe part of said boot to engage upon and be supported by said roller-like element, and adjusting means for adjusting at least said one rollerlike element in the longitudinal direction of said ski, said adjusting means including a slide member carrying said rollerlike element and means for guiding said slide member on said unit in the longitudinal direction of said ski.
 10. A front supporting mechanism as defined in claim 9, in which said rollerlike element is mounted so as to extend in a substantially vertical direction at one side of said slide member, said unit having a slot-shaped aperture containing said slide member and having inner lateral walls for guiding said slide member in the longitudinal direction.
 11. A front supporting mechanism as defined in claim 9, in which said adjusting means further comprise screw means having an axis extending substantially in the longitudinal direction of said ski.
 12. A front supporting mechanism of a ski safety binding comprising a supporting unit having a pair of lateral, rearwardly projecting boot-supporting arms adapted to engage with and support the toe part of a ski boot, pivot means for mounting said unit on said ski so as to be pivotable relative to said ski about an axis extending substantially vertically to the upper surface of a ski, releasable locking means for normally locking said unit in a central position in which its longitudinal axis extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said ski, two supporting elements rotatably mounted on said unit between said two boot-supporting arms in a manner so as to permit the front side of the toe part of said boot to simultaneously engage upon and be supported by said supporting elements, a rocker similar to a scale beam having a pair of arms, bearing means for mounting said rocker on said unit so as to be pivotable about an axis extending substantially vertically to the upper surface of said ski, and means for rotatably mounting said two supporting elements on said rocker arms so as to be rotatable about substantially vertical axes extending parallel to the pivot axis of said rocker.
 13. A front supporting mechanism according to claim 12, wherein said supporting elements are rollerlike elements.
 14. A front supporting mechanism as defined in claim 13, in which said lateral boot-supporting arms are substantially rigid and integral with said supporting unit.
 15. A front supporting mechanism according to claim 12, further comprising means for adjusting said supporting elements in the longitudinal direction of the ski.
 16. A front supporting mechanism as defined in claim 15, wherein said adjusting means includes a slide member carrying said supporting elements, and means for guiding said slide member on said unit in the longitudinal direction of said ski.
 17. A front supporting mechanism as defined in claim 16, wherein said supporting elements are mounted so as to extend in a substantially vertical direction at one side of said slide member, said unit having a slot-shaped aperture containing said slide member and having inner lateral walls for guiding said slide member in the longitudinal direction.
 18. A front supporting mechanism as defined in claim 16, In which said adjusting means further comprise screw means having an axis extending substantially in the longitudinal direction of said ski.
 19. A front supporting mechanism as defined in claim 12, further comprising means for adjusting said rocker in the longitudinal direction of said ski.
 20. A front supporting mechanism as defined in claim 19, in which said adjusting means comprise a slide member and means for guiding said slide member on said unit in the longitudinal direction of said ski, said bearing means of said rocker comprising a pivot pin secured to said slide member and extending through a central bore in said rocker and in a substantially vertical direction to the upper surface of said ski, said rocker being pivotably mounted on said pivot pin.
 21. A front supporting mechanism as defined in claim 20, in which between said boot-supporting arms said supporting unit has a slot-shaped aperture extending in said longitudinal direction and having two opposite inner side walls and end walls and containing said slide member, said slide member having a threaded bore extending substantially in said longitudinal direction, said means for guiding said slide member comprising said inner side walls, and outer side walls on said slide member slidable along and guided by said inner side walls of said aperture, and a screw member screwed through said bore and its opposite ends substantially abutting against said end walls of said aperture, said screw member when turned about its axis adapted to shift said slide member back and forth in said longitudinal direction along said screw member within said aperture, and releasable means for clamping said slide member in a fixed position to said unit in a direction substantially vertically to the upper surface of said ski.
 22. A front supporting mechanism as defined in claim 21, in which said unit has an upper and a lower shoulder at the upper and lower ends of said aperture and extending substantially parallel to said ski surface, said clamping means comprising a flange projecting laterally from one end of said slide member and engaging upon one of said shoulders, and a nut member screwed on a threaded part of said pivot pin and adapted to be tightened against the other shoulder so as to secure said slide member in said aperture in a fixed position to said unit.
 23. A front supporting mechanism as defined in claim 21, in which said rocker is composed of two substantially parallel plates pivotably mounted above each other on said pivot pin, said supporting elements being disposed between and rotatably mounted on said two plates at the opposite lateral sides of said pivot pin.
 24. A front supporting mechanism as defined in claim 12, in which said lateral boot-supporting arms are substantially rigid and integral with said supporting unit.
 25. A mechanism according to claim 12, further comprising means for adjusting said supporting elements in the longidudinal direction of the ski.
 26. A mechanism for a ski safety binding comprising: a supporting unit, a pair of lateral rearwardly projecting boot-supporting arms adapted to engage with and support an end part of a ski boot, pivot means for mounting said unit on said ski such that said unit is pivotable relative to said ski about an axis extending substantially vertically to the upper surface of said ski at a fixed location on said upper surface, said boot-supporting arms being connected to said unit so as to move with said unit during pivotal movement of said unit, releasable locking means for normally locking said unit in a central position in which the longitudinal axis of said unit extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said ski, said locking means being responsive to predetermined lateral forces on said unit to release said unit for pivotal movement away from said central position, at least one rotatable element mounted on said unit between said boot-supporting arms in a manner permitting abutting engagement of a part of said ski boot on said rOtatable element when said ski boot is on said ski and supported by said supporting mechanism, and adjusting means for adjusting said at least one rotatable element in the longitudinal direction of said ski with respect to engagement points of said supporting arms on said ski boot to ensure contact between said ski boot and said supporting arms and said at least one rotatable element for boots of varying sizes, and a rocker similar to a scale beam having a pair of arms, bearing means for mounting said rocker on said unit so as to be pivotable about an axis extending substantially vertically to the upper surface of said ski, and means for rotatably mounting two of said rotatable elements on said rocker arm so as to be rotatable about substantially vertical axes extending parallel to the pivot axis of said rocker.
 27. A mechanism according to claim 26, further comprising means for adjusting said rocker in the longitudinal direction of said ski.
 28. A mechanism according to claim 27, in which said adjusting means comprise a slide member and means for guiding said slide member on said unit in the longitudinal direction of said ski, said bearing means of said rocker comprising a pivot pin secured to said slide member and extending through a central bore in said rocker and in a substantially vertical direction to the upper surface of said ski, said rocker being pivotably mounted on said pivot pin.
 29. A mechanism for a ski safety binding comprising: a supporting unit, a pair of lateral rearwardly projecting boot-supporting arms adapted to engage with and support an end part of a ski boot, pivot means for mounting said unit on said ski such that said unit is pivotable relative to said ski about an axis extending substantially vertically to the upper surface of said ski at a fixed location on said upper surface, said boot-supporting arms being connected to said unit so as to move with said unit during pivotal movement of said unit, releasable locking means for normally locking said unit in a central position in which the longitudinal axis of said unit extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said ski, said locking means being responsive to predetermined lateral forces on said unit to release said unit for pivotal movement away from said central position, at least one rotatable element mounted on said unit between said boot-supporting arms in a manner permitting abutting engagement of a part of said ski boot on said rotatable element when said ski boot is on said ski and supported by said supporting mechanism, and adjusting means for adjusting said at least one rotatable element in the longitudinal direction of said ski with respect to engagement points of said supporting arms on said ski boot to ensure contact between said ski boot and said supporting arms and said at least one rotatable element for boots of varying sizes, wherein said adjusting means includes means for adjusting said at least one rotatable element in the longitudinal direction of said ski.
 30. A mechanism according to claim 29, wherein said rotatable element includes a roller having an axis extending substantially vertically to the upper surface of said ski, and further comprising means for mounting said roller so as to be rotatable about said last-mentioned axis.
 31. A mechanism according to claim 29, wherein two of said rotatable elements are rotatably mounted side-by-side and in such a manner that said end part of said boot may simultaneously engage with and be supported by said two rotatable elements.
 32. A mechanism according to claim 29, in which said adjusting means includes a slide member carrying said rotatable element and means for guiding said slide member on said unit in the longitudinal direction of said ski.
 33. A mechanism according to claim 32, in which said rotatable element is mounted so as to extend in a substantially vertical direction at one side of said slide member, said unit having a slot-shaped aperture containing said slide member and having inner latEral walls for guiding said slide member in the longitudinal direction.
 34. A mechanism according to claim 32, in which said adjusting means further comprise screw means having an axis extending substantially in the longitudinal direction of said ski.
 35. A mechanism for a ski safety binding comprising: a supporting unit, a pair of lateral rearwardly projecting boot-supporting arms adapted to engage with and support an end part of a ski boot, pivot means for mounting said unit on said ski such that said unit is pivotable relative to said ski about an axis extending substantially vertically to the upper surface of said ski at a fixed location on said upper surface, said boot-supporting arms being connected to said unit so as to move with said unit during pivotal movement of said unit, releasable locking means for normally locking said unit in a central position in which the longitudinal axis of said unit extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said ski, said locking means being responsive to predetermined lateral forces on said unit to release said unit for pivotal movement away from said central position, at least one rotatable element mounted on said unit between said boot-supporting arms in a manner permitting abutting engagement of a part of said ski boot on said rotatable element when said ski boot is on said ski and supported by said supporting mechanism, and adjusting means for adjusting said at least one rotatable element in the longitudinal direction of said ski with respect to engagement points of said supporting arms on said ski boot to ensure contact between said ski boot and said supporting arms and said at least one rotatable element for boots of varying sizes, in which said lateral boot-supporting arms are substantially rigid and integral with said supporting unit.
 36. A mechanism for a ski safety binding comprising: a pair of lateral longitudinally projecting boot-supporting arms, mounting means for mounting said arms on a ski such that said arms are movable between a first position with each of said arms abuttingly engaging a respective side of an end part of a ski boot located on said ski to hold said boot in an in-use position with said arms preventing movement of said boot from said in-use position, wherein said mounting means includes releasable locking means for normally locking said arms in said first position, said locking means being responsive to predetermined lateral forces imposed on said arms by said boot to permit movement of said arms to said second position, at least one rotatable element positioned for abutting engagement with said end part between respective points of engagement of said arms with said sides of said end part when said arms are in said first position. and adjusting means for adjusting the position of said at least one rotatable element with respect to the respective points of engagement of said arms with said sides to assure contact between said boot and both said arms and said at least one rotatable element for boots of varying sizes, wherein said supporting arms are fixedly connected with one another when in an adjusted operating position, and wherein said at least one rotatable element is maintained in an adjusted position relatively fixed with respect to said supporting arms such that said end part of said boot is securely guided by said rotatable element and said supporting arms during movement from said first position toward said second position, wherein said supporting arms are integrally formed with one another, and wherein said adjusting means includes a slide member which supports said at least one rotatable element, said slide member being adjustable in the longitudinal direction of the ski with respect to said supporting arms.
 37. A mechanism for a ski safety binding comprising: a pair of lateral longitudinally projecting boot-supporting arms, mounting means for mounting said arms on a ski such that said arms are movable between a first position witH each of said arms abuttingly engaging a respective side of an end part of a ski boot located on said ski to hold said boot in an in-use position with said arms preventing movement of said boot from said in-use position, wherein said mounting means includes releasable locking means for normally locking said arms in said first position, said locking means being responsive to predetermined lateral forces imposed on said arms by said boot to permit movement of said arms to said second position, at least one friction reducing element positioned for abutting engagement with said end part between respective points of engagement of said arms with said sides of said end part when said arms are in said first position, and adjusting means for adjusting the position of said at least one friction reducing element with respect to the respective points of engagement of said arms with said sides to assure contact between said boot and both said arms and said at least one friction reducing element for boots of varying sizes, wherein said supporting arms are connected with one another at a fixed position with respect to said at least one friction reducing element during movement of said supporting arms between said first and second positions such that said end part of said boot is securely guided by said at least one friction reducing element and by said supporting arms during movement from said first position toward said second position, and wherein said supporting arms are integrally formed with one another and wherein said adjusting means includes a slide member which supports said at least one friction reducing element, said slide member being adjustable in the longitudinal direction of the ski with respect to said supporting arms. 